Top Iranian official, Afghanistan peace negotiator meet in Kabul

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and head of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah met in the Afghan capital on Saturday.

The Islamic Republic changelessly supports realization of peace and stability in its neighbor, which has been embroiled in decades of Taliban militancy and military interference by the United States and its allies to purportedly uproot the militants.

Accordingly, Tehran has been closely following peace talks between Kabul and the militants that have been going on since September 12 in the Qatari capital Doha, where the Taliban maintains a representative office. It has lauded the two sides’ willingness to engage in negotiations.

Araqchi and Abdullah likewise addressed whatever progress that might have been made in the negotiations, the Islamic Republic’s role in bringing about peace to Afghanistan and other bilateral issues.

The Afghan official used the opportunity to appreciate Tehran’s cooperation with Kabul and its support for the peace process.

Also on Saturday, Araqchi met with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab and National Security Advisor Hamdollah Moheb.

Potential conclusion of a comprehensive long-term cooperation agreement between Iran and Afghanistan as well as further development of the two sides’ political, economic, and trade ties were among other subject matters that came up during Araqchi’s discussions with Afghan officials.

The Afghan deputy top diplomat, meanwhile, expressed gratitude on the part of Kabul for the Islamic Republic’s years-long efforts towards accepting and accommodating Afghan refugees. He also congratulated the countries on the occasion of recent inauguration of a railway linking western Afghanistan and Iran.

Nab called the establishment of the rail link an important and essential step in development of bilateral relations.